Dance as a Moveable Feast!

It’s been nearly a week since we concluded our 2 week run of Moves After Dark, but we’re still buzzing about the shows, which did prove to be a kind of “moveable feast” throughout our beautiful Music Center campus.  Each of the 4 dance companies featured brought such amazing work to their assigned spaces, so much so we don’t know if we’ll ever see them the same way again!  From Ate9’s brilliantly bizarre piece in the Founders Room, to Lula Washington Dance Theatre’s uplifting Message for my Peeps on the steps of the Disney Concert Hall, to Ana Maria Alavarez’s splash-sational work in the Taper Reflecting Pool, and BODYTRAFFIC’s intriguing Restructure on the plaza with Gustavo Godoy’s stunning yellow sculpture –  Moves After Dark had something for everyone and truly transformed our Music Center into a cornucopia of dance as we never have before.

 But beyond the dancing, we loved the atmosphere that our audience added to the mix.  As groups of patrons walked from performance location to location, sharing thoughts, sipping beverages and snapping pics, a wonderful sense of community developed.  It was the perfect way to enjoy dance on a warm summer’s evening in LA.  If you were lucky enough to snag a ticket to one of our sold-out shows, leave a comment below and let us know which piece was your personal favorite.

And if you’re still wanting a bit more Moves, here’s a quick video reacap for your viewing pleasure…. Enjoy!

Series sponsored by Center Dance Arts.  BODYTRAFFIC performance Co-commissioned by Dance Camera West and The Music Center. Sculpture by LA artist Gustavo Godoy.

 

Moves After Dark Opens Monday!

Work by Ana Maria Alvarez Rehearsal – Photo by Heather Toner

Ordinarily in the theater world, Mondays & Tuesdays are considered “dark nights,” because there very rarely ever is a show on those days.  So the theaters are literally dark with all the lights turned out.  Well, this month we’ve decided to bring a bit of life to these normally quiet evenings with a new production called Moves After Dark!

Starting Monday, Moves After Dark will feature 4 LA-based dance companies in original works choreographed specifically for unusual locations around The Music Center’s large campus.  Ate9 dANCE cOMPANY will perform in the Founders Room of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (a space normally not open to the public,) Lula Washington Dance Theatre will perform on the front steps of Walt Disney Concert Hall,  Contra-Tiempo’s artistic director has set a piece in the reflecting pool that surrounds the Mark Taper Forum, and BODYTRAFFIC will perform  a work on the plaza originally co-commission by Dance Camera West and featuring an original sculpture by LA artist Gustavo Godoy.

Ate9 dANCE cOMPANY – Photo by Heather Toner

Lula Washington Dance Theatre – Photo by Heather Toner

Audience members will be split into three groups and each group will be escorted from location to location to view the works.  At the end of the evening, all three groups will come together to view the final piece by BODYTRAFFIC.

BODYTRAFFIC on scuplture by Gustavo Godoy – Photo by Skye Schmitdt

It’s safe to say, we’re all pretty excited about Moves After Dark  because it launches a whole new way to experience dance at The Music Center and does so in a way that’s more casual and accessible…. It also highlights the beautiful architecture and nuances of our campus in a truly exciting and innovative way.

Tickets are just $25 and that includes 1 free drink from the Patina Bar (soft drinks, wine, beer, tea and coffee only) and you’ve got 4 chances to see this innovative, totally LA performance:  July 13, 14, 20 & 21.  So grab your tickets, grab your friends and get ready to move! 

This new series is sponsored by Center Dance Arts, with lead support from Cornerstone Research  and STROOCK & STROOCK & LAVAN LLP.